Top 10 most affordable housing markets in Southern California

Despite skyrocketing home prices in Southern California, some communities still offer bargain-basement homes — even by national standards.

The 10 most affordable ZIP codes all rest in the Inland Empire, where the median home price in some communities remains below $100,000, among them Barstow and Twentynine Palms.

But those homes are becoming harder and harder to find, as investors have scooped up many of the houses to either flip or rent out. In June, the number of Southland homes that sold below $200,000 fell 43.2% from a year earlier, while the number of homes priced under $300,000 dropped 35%, according to research firm DataQuick.

Investor activity has helped drive the dramatic price gains recently by adding another level of demand on top of traditional home buyers. Although investors have slowed their purchases of late, they remain a dominant force in the market.